Gill C Duff

Focused on pre­-revenue startup division within NC2 Media which also owns the Lonely Planet travel franchise as well as other publishing and media tech properties. Building the revenue­ generation component of a unique and disruptive mobile casual gaming platform. The platform is compelling to major marketers, delivers highly­-targeted and engaged consumers, and provides them with tangible incentives to transact with our brand marketer partners.

Led all executive management and agency operations for company with $60 million in revenue and 260+ employees. Consistently delivered profit margins to agency network and parent company in excess of 30%. Led improvement of agency's creative product as evidenced by finalist designation for the 4A's O'Toole Award (which showcases agency's total body of work across multiple clients.) Agency work also honored in leading global, national and regional award shows. Emphasized marketplace effectiveness and, as a result, agency increased its award presence in the North American Effie Awards. Grew digital offerings, including social and mobile expertise, to 35% of total agency output from less than 10%. Critical hires included new Behavioral Planning Director who forged a planning culture in the agency. Initiated and commissioned studies to develop agency expertise on the millennial target audience. Initiated first long-term strategic planning process for Georgia Lottery. Initiated and led GRIP prospecting program focused on generating insights that address specific target client's pain points while leveraging agency experience, expertise and case studies. North American specialty resources, housed in Atlanta office and included in my P&L were 25-person analytics and econometric modeling unit, shopper marketing and experiential marketing, plus highly profitable studio and high-volume production/distribution platform. Oversaw client work for brands including Embassy Suites/Hilton hotels, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Carter's kidswear, ING financial services, REI, Georgia Lottery and the American Red Cross.

Represented agency on boards including the 4A's Atlanta Council Board of Governors and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Board of Advisors, as well as serving as a final round judge and judging room leader/moderator for the North American Effie Awards.

As Global Business Director at DDB Worldwide for Anheuser-Busch InBev's Budweiser, spearheaded agency efforts in support of Budweiser’s sponsorship of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Directed creation of an integrated global platform, Budweiser United, which engaged and empowered consumers during the world’s largest sporting event. The centerpiece of the program was Bud House, a groundbreaking online reality show, which brought 32 passionate football fans, one from each country in the World Cup, to South Africa to live under one roof throughout the competition. Bud House featured the unprecedented merger of branded content, reality entertainment programming, near real time production, multiple digital platforms, consumer engagement and sponsorship activation, all on a global scale. Managed cross-agency collaboration between DDB Chicago for content creation and Tribal DDB Amsterdam for digital production and online distribution. Bud United's creative awards included a One Show Pencil, New York Festivals Medal and a Webby Award nomination.

Work closely with local DDB and Tribal DDB offices to ensure alignment with global strategic positioning, adherence to quality standards and agency network coordination. Adding to DDB’s lead agency status, led pitches which secured new local brand assignments in the UK and Russia. Led development of work for Bud’s successful, and Gold EFFIE award-winning, launch in Russia, as well as brand line extensions in both China (Budweiser Genuine Draft) and the UK (Budweiser 66.) Including the year-long pitch for the launch of Budweiser in Brazil, worked in three of the four BRIC markets, plus the UK and US, during 2009-2011.

Based on the brand's global success, 2010 marked the first year of positive growth for Budweiser in two decades.

Currently represent DDB on industry boards including Advertising Week Inc.and the 4A's New York City Council, as well as serving as a final round judge for the Global EFFIE Awards.

Publicis New York is the flagship agency of Publicis USA. Grew 300-plus person agency's top-line revenue by 51%, to $100 million, over four-plus years, while increasing profitability to the highest levels within the network. Growth came from both organic and new business. Worked closely with clients including Heineken USA (Heineken and Amstel Light,) Coca-Cola (pitched and won new product assignment for Vault citrus-based soda,) Sanofi-Aventis (pitched and won new product assignments for Rimonabant anti-obesity drug and Sculptra cosmetic dermal filler,) BMW, Abbott Nutrition and Tumi (pitched and won account.) Additionally, oversaw new business wins including Procter & Gamble's Oral B, Citi, Pernod-Ricard's Malibu-Kahlua International, Nestle's RTD Jamba Juice, Graco and Talbots. Managed all day-to-day agency operations including executive-level account management, agency talent and resources, training, work flow process, communications, office management and financial performance delivery. Served on Agency's USA Leadership Team. Championed cross-discipline partnership with other Publicis Groupe companies across multiple specialities including media, digital, marketing services, shopper marketing, integrated production, healthcare and other units.

Represented agency on industry boards including Advertising Week Inc, 4A's New York City Council, Advertising Educational Foundation and The Advertising Club of New York, as well as serving as a final round judge for the EFFIE Awards.

Ran the FedEx account at BBDO New York. In this capacity, led development of the highly successful "Relax, it's FedEx" campaign, which helped FedEx continue its growth and won several prestigious creative awards including the Cannes Gold Lion. Directed development of a Super Bowl commercial for FedEx which was named one of the “Top 20 Best Super Bowl Ads Ever” by Creativity. Led development of creative work for the successful launch of FedExKinkos (now FedEx Office) retail brand. Member of multi-disciplinary task force which developed/launched this new brand. Built and led collaborative team across FedEx's multiple marketing partners including OMD, Atmosphere BBDO and others.

Founded boutique agency in Nashville (my hometown) which was positioned as nimble, smart and highly creative team. Partnered with established AAAA shop for media, digital, PR and accounting. Agency was a top winner in local creative awards and was named finalist for Nashville Business Journal's Emerging Business of the Year after eight months.

Founding team member of Biopage and the Consumer-Owned Information Network (COIN,) a web-based, start-up consumer organization. Created and drafted three-year marketing plan for the business. Co-wrote Biopage's process patent application (received patent-pending status) based on technology which was created to help consumers tap the value of their personal information. Steered partnership effort with a global marketing services company to provide data feed to all members. Interestingly, concept was very similar to the highly successful social networking sites which came along 5-10 years later - the primary difference being, in Biopage's case, consumers retained ownership of their personal information and data.

Directed group of accounts including Arvin-Meritor, Swedish Match Tobacco Company and Gaylord's Opryland Hotel. Led new business win for Arvin-Meritor's Purolator automotive filters account and development of brand's hard-hitting campaign. Directed research and new product development for Swedish Match Tobacco Company's new-age smokeless product. Initiated agency's first business development effort targeting search consultants.

Ran a group of accounts at Y&R NY including AT&T Corporate Brand, Miller Brewing's Molson USA, Kraft Foods' General Foods International Coffee, Kraft Jacob Suchard's Milka Chocolate and worked in Y&R's New Business group. Played key role in successful pitch for the Blockbuster Video's $100 million account, leveraging previous client relationships. Led special-assignment SWAT team -- based out of Y&R Frankfurt for eight months -- which resulted in the strategic repositioning and agency retention of KJS' Milka chocolate business in Germany. Led development on creative work which won several awards including an Emmy nomination for AT&T and "Best of the Year" recognition from Adweek Magazine for Molson.

At DMB&B St. Louis, worked as an account director on Anheuser-Busch's Budweiser and Blockbuster Entertainment. Bud Bowl IV and V promotions broke records for Bud Family sales and Super Bowl recognition. Advertising Age recently proclaimed this campaign one of the "12 Ads Which Changed The Super Bowl." Budweiser Olympic commercial won several awards including USA Today's "Five Best Ads of the Year." Successfully led team which won the Blockbuster Video account -- the largest win in DMB&B history -- while serving on special assignment as Executive Assistant to the Agency's CEO/Managing Director.

At Leo Burnett in Chicago, worked on the UDG/Schenley bourbons business and on Heinz Pet Products. Led development of award-winning print and loyalty building direct marketing for George Dickel Tennessee Whisky which drove record brand sales in face of category-wide declines for brown spirits. Supervised development of Amore cat food work which resulted in sales and share increases.

Started my major agency career at FCB Chicago, working on the Molson Breweries of Canada business. Launched Coors and Coors Light in Canada through joint venture between Molson and Adolph Coors Company. Coors Light became the number one light beer in Canada. Supervised campaign which revitalized Molson Export, Canada's second largest beer brand. Led multi-office team across disciplines as well as for both English and French language creative work.

First job in advertising, based in my hometown of Nashville. Worked on accounts including Quality Bakers of America's Sunbeam bread, Pinkerton Tobacco Company, Hospital Corporation of America, Clark's of England and Bostonian footwear.